This Parliament Opening Was Different From All Others

 The 13th parliament opened on Monday. The Members of Parliament were duly sworn in as were the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. But this opening was different from any that people had witnessed. Generally, the President would address the opening. This was not to be this year.

The Leader of the Opposition is usually elected during the opening. Again, this was not done this year. It is widely held that Azruddin Mohamed would be elected the Leader of the Opposition. This would be the first time that the Leader of the Opposition would be someone from a political party other than the People’s Progressive Party or the People’s National Congress.

Mohamed, who is leading We Invest in Nationhood—WIN—emerged on the scene this year. Many saw his emergence as a reaction to the PPP government’s attack on him. But instead of reducing the PPP, he actually decimated the People’s National Congress Reform.

His presence in the National Assembly has been seen as a red flag to the PPP. Leaders in the PPP had said that they were not prepared to work with Mohamed. That being the case, the public view is that the PPP is bent on preventing him from becoming the Leader of the Opposition.

Hours before Parliament reconvened Mohamed was arrested and placed before the courts on an extradition request. He was granted bail, paving the way for his appearance in Parliament on Monday. There were some angry comments coming from the government. There was talk that he should not have been granted bail. One government-backed social media operative actually announced soon after the arrest, that Mohamed would be remanded. However, bail is a condition to ensure that the defendant returns to court. It is not intended to be punitive.

The non-election of the Leader of the Opposition on Monday is believed to have been tied to Azruddin Mohamed. Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs told reporters that the election of the Leader of the Opposition is dependent on the Speaker of the National Assembly.

With the Speaker being a creature of the PPP, it is likely that the entire sitting could proceed without the Speaker calling for the election of an Opposition Leader.

Monday was known for something else. Tradition is that the political party with the parliamentary majority would select the Speaker. Generally, the opposition would get the Deputy Speaker. That was the case until Monday. WIN nominated one of its own. The PPP decided that it would take both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.

Ahead of the coalition between A Partnership for National United and the Alliance For Change there was close opposition collaboration. The government was a minority government and the opposition reduced it to an opposition. This time around the opposition appears to be fragmented. APNU declined to vote when the WIN member of Parliament, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley was nominated for the position of Deputy Speaker. It abstained.

There was a similar situation during the elections at the elections of the Region Four Democratic Council. On that occasion, WIN abstained. A fragmented opposition can in no way force the government to observe the rule of law. In fact, no opposition has been able to halt the excesses of the PPP government. This time there will be even more excesses.

Many Guyanese were looking to the United States for some help. They knew of the corruption; they knew of the selective prosecutions; they knew of the cover-ups. They expected some PPP leaders to be indicted. None of that happened. This time around with an absolute parliamentary majority the people can expect worse.  And no one would be coming to their rescue. Like some people in other countries, they brought the situation on themselves.

They had a golden opportunity at the September 1, 2025 elections. However, the three-card trick came into play. The government tossed a few dollars in their midst by way of contracts. Many were swayed. In fact, Mohamed also used his money to sway many voters. The result was that the PPP emerged with an even greater majority. The casualty was A Partnership for National Unity.

Over the next five years there will be many disturbing incidents. Already the nation is witnessing some shenanigans in the Judiciary. One judge has been pitchforked into the position of Chief Justice ahead of his seniors.

The acting Chancellor who often ruled against the government has been forced out. Already, there is a Police Commissioner who was appointed way past his age of retirement. There is a marked silence surrounding a police officer who was placed before the courts on more than 100 charges. This officer had promised to spill the beans.

There is a policeman who has been sanctioned by the United States but who remains on the job. There have been cybercrime charges against people who dared to speak out against the PPP government. All those charges have been dismissed. Others who made even more rabid racist statements and who are supportive of the PPP were not charged. In fact, in a recent case, the Ethnic Relations Commission merely dealt the woman a slap on the wrist.

The nation can expect more of the same over the next five years. Institutions that should be functioning in the interest of the state remain dormant. Life goes on. Poverty continues to rise although ExxonMobil has announced whopping profits. Education will continue to decline; crime will continue to rise and people will continue to live in fear.